Body-inserted tube cleaning
First Claim
1. A method for cleaning an inside surface of an endotracheal tube without removing the endotracheal tube from a native airway of a patient, the method comprising:
- coupling a distal port of an adapter to an endotracheal tube, the adapter comprising a proximal ventilation port configured to facilitate ongoing ventilation of the patient, a proximal device insertion port configured to facilitate access to the endotracheal tube by one or more aspiration or cleaning instruments without disconnecting a ventilator from the ventilation port or the adapter from the endotracheal tube, and an elastomeric diaphragm configured to provide a seal around an inserted instrument so as to prevent loss of ventilator tidal volume through the adapter;
connecting a ventilator to the ventilation port of the adapter;
aspirating an interior of the endotracheal tube using an aspiration instrument;
inserting an endotracheal tube cleaning device through the device insertion port of the adapter and into the endotracheal tube, the endotracheal tube cleaning device having a radially expandable cleaning member;
determining a deployment depth for the endotracheal tube cleaning device by aligning visible indicia on the endotracheal tube with corresponding indicia on the endotracheal tube cleaning device;
actuating the cleaning member from a radially-collapsed configuration to a radially-expanded configuration by manipulating an actuation assembly of the endotracheal tube cleaning device with a single hand;
wherein actuating the cleaning member causes at least a portion of the cleaning member to engage an interior wall of the endotracheal tube;
withdrawing the endotracheal tube cleaning device from the endotracheal tube in order to remove biofilm from the interior wall of the endotracheal tube; and
removing the adapter from the endotracheal tube after withdrawing the endotracheal tube cleaning device from the endotracheal tube.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for the cleaning of an endotracheal tube while a patient is being supported by a ventilator connected to the endotracheal tube for the purpose of increasing the available space for airflow or to prevent the build up of materials that may constrict airflow or be a potential nidus for infection. In one embodiment, a method for cleaning endotracheal tubes comprises inserting a cleaning device within an endotracheal tube while a cleaning member is in a compressed position, radially expanding the cleaning member to an expanded position within the endotracheal tube, and withdrawing the cleaning device from the endotracheal tube with the cleaning member in the expanded position.
387 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for cleaning an inside surface of an endotracheal tube without removing the endotracheal tube from a native airway of a patient, the method comprising:
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coupling a distal port of an adapter to an endotracheal tube, the adapter comprising a proximal ventilation port configured to facilitate ongoing ventilation of the patient, a proximal device insertion port configured to facilitate access to the endotracheal tube by one or more aspiration or cleaning instruments without disconnecting a ventilator from the ventilation port or the adapter from the endotracheal tube, and an elastomeric diaphragm configured to provide a seal around an inserted instrument so as to prevent loss of ventilator tidal volume through the adapter; connecting a ventilator to the ventilation port of the adapter; aspirating an interior of the endotracheal tube using an aspiration instrument; inserting an endotracheal tube cleaning device through the device insertion port of the adapter and into the endotracheal tube, the endotracheal tube cleaning device having a radially expandable cleaning member; determining a deployment depth for the endotracheal tube cleaning device by aligning visible indicia on the endotracheal tube with corresponding indicia on the endotracheal tube cleaning device; actuating the cleaning member from a radially-collapsed configuration to a radially-expanded configuration by manipulating an actuation assembly of the endotracheal tube cleaning device with a single hand; wherein actuating the cleaning member causes at least a portion of the cleaning member to engage an interior wall of the endotracheal tube; withdrawing the endotracheal tube cleaning device from the endotracheal tube in order to remove biofilm from the interior wall of the endotracheal tube; and removing the adapter from the endotracheal tube after withdrawing the endotracheal tube cleaning device from the endotracheal tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for cleaning an inside surface of an endotracheal tube without removing the endotracheal tube from a native airway of a patient, the method comprising:
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coupling a distal port of an adapter to the endotracheal tube, the adapter comprising a proximal ventilation port configured to facilitate ongoing ventilation of the patient a proximal device insertion port configured to facilitate access to the endotracheal tube by one or more aspiration or cleaning instruments without disconnecting a ventilator from the ventilation port or the adapter from the endotracheal tube, and an elastomeric diaphragm configured to provide a seal around an inserted instrument so as to prevent loss of ventilator tidal volume through the adapter; connecting a ventilator to the ventilation port of the adapter; inserting an endotracheal tube cleaning device through the device insertion port of the adapter and into the endotracheal tube without disconnecting the ventilator from the ventilation port or disconnecting the adapter from the endotracheal tube, the endotracheal tube cleaning device having a radially expandable cleaning member; actuating the cleaning member from a radially-collapsed configuration to a radially-expanded configuration by manipulating an actuation assembly of the endotracheal tube cleaning device; wherein actuating the cleaning member causes at least a portion of the cleaning member to engage an interior wall of the endotracheal tube; withdrawing the endotracheal tube cleaning device from the endotracheal tube in order to remove biofilm from the interior wall of the endotracheal tube; aspirating an interior of the endotracheal tube; and removing the adapter from the endotracheal tube after withdrawing the endotracheal tube cleaning device from the endotracheal tube. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification